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The Connecticut Business & Industry Association is the voice of business in Connecticut, with thousands of member companies championing change at the State Capitol, shaping debate about economic competitiveness, and fighting for a better future for all.

Manufacturers are hiring for a range of positions, including entry level production workers, engineers, CNC programmers and machinists, technicians, and welders, with 98% looking to fill full-time positions.

How are manufacturers preparing? Seventy-nine percent are training their current workforce, 72% are using targeted recruitment plans, 40% are developing and expanding apprenticeships, and 26% are turning to automation.

What was clear in the survey was the disconnect between the needed skills and available training. In almost every category, manufacturers feel there are not enough training opportunities.

Encouraging younger generations to choose careers in manufacturing must start early, and be a part of exploring traditional pathways to future employment, in addition to college.

CBIA Workforce & Education Partnership vice president Andrea Comer said the survey highlights the important role technical high schools and community colleges play in filling the talent pipeline.

"There's a growing need for 21st century skills training, and employers place tremendous value on certification and credentials," she said.

“If the community colleges could in bring younger generations and show them everything that's out there to spark their interest, even do talks or have them tour shops,” Lampognana said.

“They can see that they can use their hands, do things that they enjoy doing, and have a really supportive community behind them.”

Ramirez has become an ambassador for Carey Manufacturing to introduce opportunities in the manufacturing industry to middle and high school students.

“The reason why I want to stay here [in Connecticut] is because I know I can grow as a person, so I can encourage others as well.”

Creating Partnerships for the Future

The gap between skills needed versus training offered is a persistent problem for manufacturers. Expanding programs and curriculum at every educational institution level is critical.

Don Droppo Jr. of Curtis Packaging Corporation said that relationships between manufacturers, community colleges, and the state university system can bridge that gap.

“We need to band together to take advantage of what's here," Droppo said. "Labor is a big piece of it—that's where we have to be as creative as we can."

“These days, you can't put a quarter into a machine and out pops an operator," Egan added. "You have to go to a lot of different places.

“We've developed relationships with different state entities, community colleges, and with Our Piece of the Pie [a nonprofit helping urban youth become economically independent].”

John Testa, director of metal form-manufacturing at CSS, said the company's partnership with the Connecticut Department of Labor "is paying off in dividends.”

“We have also developed a triage team to look at talent acquisition and talent retention," he said. "Our senior staff meets each week, and we visit job fairs and colleges.

Testa acknowledged that at least in the short-term, finding skilled labor will be difficult.

“But if we can build our base for the future, we can continue to grow," he said.

'Tribal Knowledge'

According to the survey, an average 12% of manufacturing workers are expected to retire by 2020. One way manufacturers bridge the skills and training gap is partnering experienced employees with young, recent hires to train them on the job.

“We call it 'tribal knowledge,' as most of the people that have been here for 30-plus years are going to be transitioning out for retirement,” said Carey's Egan.

“We utilize our experienced people, and they spend as much time as they can with younger people coming in to train them. We allow them to make mistakes, finding out what the mistake was, and fixing it.”

Farmington-based CSS has also benefited from a similar program.

“We get to blend the seasoned veteran with the young rookie," Testa said. "We really drive communication on this to associates to lead not from the top down, but lead from the bottom up.

We need to band together to take advantage of what's here. We have to be as creative as we can. — Curtis Packaging's Don Droppo Jr.

“The seasoned people who are getting ready for retirement are more receptive to training young people, so we've been really fortunate with that program. You have to be patient, you have to ask the right questions.”

“There's no middle-class with manufacturing employment,” said Egan. “You've got the older people that are transitioning out, and we have young people trying to get in.”

Lucas Lampognana agrees that working with experienced employees helps not just with technical skills, but creates mentor relationships that expand throughout the organization.

“You get to work with so many really talented people, the trade is like a big family and everyone wants you to succeed,” he said.

“I had many challenges, but the support that you get here in unique,” said Ramirez. “It's unlike any other place.”

It is a very big problem, and it needs to be addressed in an emergency manner. One of the main reasons I believe is how potential future machinist look at the salary and get turned off. Here we are making critical components for the aerospace industry and mostly all the ads I see show a very disturbing starting salary. If you want more people to get into this trade you need to start by paying more! How do you expect a person to start at a shop at $14 per hour working with metal when they can have it easy working at Walmart or Mcdonald’s? If a person has the training and skill set to do this job they should be getting more money. Wage is a big factor in the shortage of attracting new workers. I also believed we waited too long to address this issue and it is coming to bite us hard. Soon the skilled workers currently working will be approached by other companies trying to steal each others workers in a desperate attempt to stay in business.

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The Connecticut Business & Industry Association is fighting to make Connecticut a top state for business, jobs, and economic growth. A better business climate means a brighter future for everyone.